Worcester is a crowded city during much of the day and travelling through it takes a lot of time. Plans to close the park and ride and so allow many more cars to enter the city is just as misguided as offering free parking. The council relies upon money from parking fees, but increasing prices is madness. If you close the park and ride and increase parking in the city, people will just go elsewhere, so everyone loses out. Is there no one on the council who can see beyond their noses ?

Worcester is a crowded city during much of the day and travelling through it takes a lot of time. Plans to close the park and ride and so allow many more cars to enter the city is just as misguided as offering free parking. The council relies upon money from parking fees, but increasing prices is madness. If you close the park and ride and increase parking in the city, people will just go elsewhere, so everyone loses out. Is there no one on the council who can see beyond their noses ?newike

Not been into Worcester probably six months now and the few times I did go, I parked at Asda. All Xmas shopping was done on-line.

The same old, same old tax and spend labour council clearly think that they are so clever, let them keep increasing car parking charges as much as they want - see what that does to the city centre. I'm not a betting man, but I wouldn't put my money on mass conversion to cyclists, buses and park and ride by shoppers.......

Not been into Worcester probably six months now and the few times I did go, I parked at Asda. All Xmas shopping was done on-line.
The same old, same old tax and spend labour council clearly think that they are so clever, let them keep increasing car parking charges as much as they want - see what that does to the city centre. I'm not a betting man, but I wouldn't put my money on mass conversion to cyclists, buses and park and ride by shoppers.......DarrenM

Superficially, offering free parking seems like a great idea. What motorist wouldn't agree!

However we all know the City is congested and parking space is already at a premium. How will encouraging more people to drive into the City solve that problem?

No matter what party is in control at the City its also a fact that central Government funding from national taxes has been cut dramatically. If free parking is brought in, then either more services will have to be cut or charges increased elsewhere.

Perhaps its not so stupid as some suggest to look at other options for encouraging more to walk, cycle or take the bus and reducing car use in and around the City?

It would certainly make it easier to use your car when you did need to use it.

Superficially, offering free parking seems like a great idea. What motorist wouldn't agree!
However we all know the City is congested and parking space is already at a premium. How will encouraging more people to drive into the City solve that problem?
No matter what party is in control at the City its also a fact that central Government funding from national taxes has been cut dramatically. If free parking is brought in, then either more services will have to be cut or charges increased elsewhere.
Perhaps its not so stupid as some suggest to look at other options for encouraging more to walk, cycle or take the bus and reducing car use in and around the City?
It would certainly make it easier to use your car when you did need to use it.3thinker

The very fact that Asda attract hundreds of cars a day has greatly contributed if not caused the continuous traffic problems around the Pheasant Street part of the City and stretches up Rainbow Hill, Tolladine Road, Shrub Hill, Newtown Road, and compounde by the stupid position of the pedestrian Crossing in Pheasant Street which is in almost continous use when pedestrians think that they can just walk up to the crossings and step merrily out without showing any concern to moving traffic, so much so that cars are now almost stopping in anticipation of a pedestrian approaching.
So the idea that the Park & Ride should stop due to finance shows that this council and the past councils (Marc Balyliss) don't have a clue as to trying to ease the number of cars coming into the City Centre.
One way to encourage cars to use the Park & Ride is to make the service financially attrative to use. The service is Frequent, the Busses are kept lovely and clean , the drivers are very pleasant. So it has to be about price.
The subsidies of around £250,000 per year are not an ammount that a strategy with the City Centre businesses that would benefit and the Councils who have a responsibility for traffic movement in and around this City plus a reasonable ammount to Park & Ride could be reached. One reason that Park & Ride numbers dropped off was the smart tactics by the previous Tory Council (Marc Bayliss) who increased the cost of the Park & Ride.
Again I say that the Asda car park at £1 is also a problem, and you can even redeem this at the tills when shopping there. So Come on Asda you are doing this City a dis-service by the traffic problems your customers are causing. Because the hold ups to the current degree, were not there before you came.

The very fact that Asda attract hundreds of cars a day has greatly contributed if not caused the continuous traffic problems around the Pheasant Street part of the City and stretches up Rainbow Hill, Tolladine Road, Shrub Hill, Newtown Road, and compounde by the stupid position of the pedestrian Crossing in Pheasant Street which is in almost continous use when pedestrians think that they can just walk up to the crossings and step merrily out without showing any concern to moving traffic, so much so that cars are now almost stopping in anticipation of a pedestrian approaching.
So the idea that the Park & Ride should stop due to finance shows that this council and the past councils (Marc Balyliss) don't have a clue as to trying to ease the number of cars coming into the City Centre.
One way to encourage cars to use the Park & Ride is to make the service financially attrative to use. The service is Frequent, the Busses are kept lovely and clean , the drivers are very pleasant. So it has to be about price.
The subsidies of around £250,000 per year are not an ammount that a strategy with the City Centre businesses that would benefit and the Councils who have a responsibility for traffic movement in and around this City plus a reasonable ammount to Park & Ride could be reached. One reason that Park & Ride numbers dropped off was the smart tactics by the previous Tory Council (Marc Bayliss) who increased the cost of the Park & Ride.
Again I say that the Asda car park at £1 is also a problem, and you can even redeem this at the tills when shopping there. So Come on Asda you are doing this City a dis-service by the traffic problems your customers are causing. Because the hold ups to the current degree, were not there before you came.Jabbadad

The congestion around the ASDA car park just shows that ASDA are good at business and the Council are bad. ASDA have a product (parking) that people want at a price that is attractive.

If the Council want people to use the P&R then make it attractive (cheaper). The price of Perdiswell is near enough the same as the City Centre car parks for medium term parking and more expensive for short term so people will obviously park in the centre.

Also Perdiswell has fourteen (fourteen!!!) different price options listed on their web site with discounts for this and that. Cut down on the complication and have a single attractive flat rate (£1 seems to work for ASDA). It will be easier, cheaper, and may even get people to use it.

The congestion around the ASDA car park just shows that ASDA are good at business and the Council are bad. ASDA have a product (parking) that people want at a price that is attractive.
If the Council want people to use the P&R then make it attractive (cheaper). The price of Perdiswell is near enough the same as the City Centre car parks for medium term parking and more expensive for short term so people will obviously park in the centre.
Also Perdiswell has fourteen (fourteen!!!) different price options listed on their web site with discounts for this and that. Cut down on the complication and have a single attractive flat rate (£1 seems to work for ASDA). It will be easier, cheaper, and may even get people to use it.Hwicce

Having spoken with several people at Asda the problems are from the people who are using the carpark for general town centre parking for up to three hours for £1 and have even been parking in the reserved Staff parking spaces.
These problems also occour at Aldi with people parking there and walking into town. So yes the answer must be the cost of parking,
The fact that Asda charge £1 (refundable at the tills when shopping) is simply a loss-leader action and not one that would be a stand alone business center plan. So they are the cause and so could be asked to be some of the cure.
As to traffic the location of the entry and exit of this carpark , close to a busy road island and a pedestrian crossing speaks volumes for the planners of this city.
And yes I do occasionally go to Asda, but in the evenings when things are usually quieter.
But the better answer is to encourage shoppers to use the Park & Ride and not to bring cars into the City Centre is it not?

Having spoken with several people at Asda the problems are from the people who are using the carpark for general town centre parking for up to three hours for £1 and have even been parking in the reserved Staff parking spaces.
These problems also occour at Aldi with people parking there and walking into town. So yes the answer must be the cost of parking,
The fact that Asda charge £1 (refundable at the tills when shopping) is simply a loss-leader action and not one that would be a stand alone business center plan. So they are the cause and so could be asked to be some of the cure.
As to traffic the location of the entry and exit of this carpark , close to a busy road island and a pedestrian crossing speaks volumes for the planners of this city.
And yes I do occasionally go to Asda, but in the evenings when things are usually quieter.
But the better answer is to encourage shoppers to use the Park & Ride and not to bring cars into the City Centre is it not?Jabbadad

The nub of the problem is too many cars on a road network and parking infrastructure that can't cope at peak times.

Surely the key solutions should focus on discouraging motorists and encouraging other modes of transport (foot, bike, bus, park and ride) at the peak times.

The nub of the problem is too many cars on a road network and parking infrastructure that can't cope at peak times.
Surely the key solutions should focus on discouraging motorists and encouraging other modes of transport (foot, bike, bus, park and ride) at the peak times.i-cycle

maybe the council should run it like asda. sack all there traffic wardens hire them as parking attendants. you pay 3 Quid to park if you have brought something over 10 quid in town you get your money back and show the receipt you get your money back.

maybe the council should run it like asda. sack all there traffic wardens hire them as parking attendants. you pay 3 Quid to park if you have brought something over 10 quid in town you get your money back and show the receipt you get your money back.norman73

I wonder whether charging significantly more for drivers arriving (and leaving?) car parks during peak congestion times would work? If park and ride was made much cheaper (Hwicce suggests £1) at the same time it may encourage more to use the service.
Charges could also be dropped when the roads are least busy times which I assume could be linked to promotions encouraging people to shop and have a night out at times when there was more capacity to accommodate their car on the road. Even better is charges were less if you had others in the car with you (but I suspect this this would be to difficult to monitor and administer).
I certainly think more can be done to encourage more to walk and cycle more and especially on the school run. The children would be healthier too!

I wonder whether charging significantly more for drivers arriving (and leaving?) car parks during peak congestion times would work? If park and ride was made much cheaper (Hwicce suggests £1) at the same time it may encourage more to use the service.
Charges could also be dropped when the roads are least busy times which I assume could be linked to promotions encouraging people to shop and have a night out at times when there was more capacity to accommodate their car on the road. Even better is charges were less if you had others in the car with you (but I suspect this this would be to difficult to monitor and administer).
I certainly think more can be done to encourage more to walk and cycle more and especially on the school run. The children would be healthier too!3thinker

norman73 wrote:
maybe the council should run it like asda. sack all there traffic wardens hire them as parking attendants. you pay 3 Quid to park if you have brought something over 10 quid in town you get your money back and show the receipt you get your money back.

It certainly sounds like an idea worth exploring, but I'm not sure whether sacking the traffic wardens and converting them to car park attendants would help. More would simply park where they're not supposed to. It may work better if other retailers offered to knock a bit off on the production of your car parking ticket? This also gets around the problem that some retailers may not want to get involved, but others may be willing to offer higher incentives to buy from them. Perhaps an idea the City Council and Business Improvement District could consider?

[quote][p][bold]norman73[/bold] wrote:
maybe the council should run it like asda. sack all there traffic wardens hire them as parking attendants. you pay 3 Quid to park if you have brought something over 10 quid in town you get your money back and show the receipt you get your money back.[/p][/quote]It certainly sounds like an idea worth exploring, but I'm not sure whether sacking the traffic wardens and converting them to car park attendants would help. More would simply park where they're not supposed to. It may work better if other retailers offered to knock a bit off on the production of your car parking ticket? This also gets around the problem that some retailers may not want to get involved, but others may be willing to offer higher incentives to buy from them. Perhaps an idea the City Council and Business Improvement District could consider?3thinker

There's already free parking near Worcester City centre, it's outside my house, people think it's fine to park for the day for work, shopping or a night on the town, they never consider that I may want to park near to my house once in a while.
The recent Victorian market and Christmas shopping meant I had to park several streets away, it's a nightmare for people who live in Cathedral ward.
Lynn Denham's election pledge to introduce a resident parking scheme in my area has been quietly forgotten now she is in office, can't wait to cast my vote next time Lynn ;)
If City centre parking was free or reduced to £1 per stay then I maybe I could park my car out side my house once in a while....

There's already free parking near Worcester City centre, it's outside my house, people think it's fine to park for the day for work, shopping or a night on the town, they never consider that I may want to park near to my house once in a while.
The recent Victorian market and Christmas shopping meant I had to park several streets away, it's a nightmare for people who live in Cathedral ward.
Lynn Denham's election pledge to introduce a resident parking scheme in my area has been quietly forgotten now she is in office, can't wait to cast my vote next time Lynn ;)
If City centre parking was free or reduced to £1 per stay then I maybe I could park my car out side my house once in a while....Grey Bruce

If the charges were lower more people would use the parking, if prices go up, they will go to free or cheaper shopping areas. The answer might be to increase volumes of parking in Worcester town centre, instead of raising prices and driving people away from our shops.

If the charges were lower more people would use the parking, if prices go up, they will go to free or cheaper shopping areas. The answer might be to increase volumes of parking in Worcester town centre, instead of raising prices and driving people away from our shops.Roger5

What would help would be for our councillors to stop playing schoolboy politics over this issue and just for once think about our City first and then perhaps the party machine.
Of course it's always difficult for our councillors to understand costs relating to travel and carparking issues, when they enjoy free privaleged parking and mileage allowances.
As to Asda and it's parking policies of course it's not free when you are aware that although a well stocked store, which includes George clothing at very rreasonable prices, overall they are not the cheapest for food and so the carparking costs to them can be factored in. Where they would lose out would be if people just parked there for 3 hours for £1 and shopped elsewhere.

What would help would be for our councillors to stop playing schoolboy politics over this issue and just for once think about our City first and then perhaps the party machine.
Of course it's always difficult for our councillors to understand costs relating to travel and carparking issues, when they enjoy free privaleged parking and mileage allowances.
As to Asda and it's parking policies of course it's not free when you are aware that although a well stocked store, which includes George clothing at very rreasonable prices, overall they are not the cheapest for food and so the carparking costs to them can be factored in. Where they would lose out would be if people just parked there for 3 hours for £1 and shopped elsewhere.Jabbadad

I can think of a few simple ideas:
* Redress the balance of where the traffic is - charge a flat rate of £1 for 3 hours like ASDA does. People won't mind paying that, I know I wouldn't and it will get people out of the ASDA car park and into the other car parks thus moving the traffic around - surely the cheaper rate will attract more people into town therefore supporting business and increasing business rate income. This then brings more shops, which then brings more revenue etc. etc. Council still make money from the Car Parks.
* Offer a residents parking scheme like Malvern does - we pay our council tax in Worcester, so we would get the benefit of a subsidised scheme - say £20 year get a 3 hour parking disk? This would bring locals into town as opposed to encouraging them to go elsewhere
* Stop looking at the park and ride in such black and white terms - it doesn't work where it is - who wants to park at Perdiswell to come into town. Shut it down and MOVE it to up near J7 or J6 and get visitors using (like most park and rides should be used!). This brings new money into the city

I really don't understand why this is so complex - I should be a town planner. Don't even get me started on the pedestrian crossings! ;)

I can think of a few simple ideas:
* Redress the balance of where the traffic is - charge a flat rate of £1 for 3 hours like ASDA does. People won't mind paying that, I know I wouldn't and it will get people out of the ASDA car park and into the other car parks thus moving the traffic around - surely the cheaper rate will attract more people into town therefore supporting business and increasing business rate income. This then brings more shops, which then brings more revenue etc. etc. Council still make money from the Car Parks.
* Offer a residents parking scheme like Malvern does - we pay our council tax in Worcester, so we would get the benefit of a subsidised scheme - say £20 year get a 3 hour parking disk? This would bring locals into town as opposed to encouraging them to go elsewhere
* Stop looking at the park and ride in such black and white terms - it doesn't work where it is - who wants to park at Perdiswell to come into town. Shut it down and MOVE it to up near J7 or J6 and get visitors using (like most park and rides should be used!). This brings new money into the city
I really don't understand why this is so complex - I should be a town planner. Don't even get me started on the pedestrian crossings! ;)apching

Hmm, judging by the lack of spaces in car parks over the festive period, I don't think pricing is a problem: demand is outstripping supply in the peak times. So I don't quite understand the argument for reducing parking charges. Perhaps as 3thinker mentions, charging should be variable throughout the day - that should help retailers as well as road users.

Traffic management is non-existent in Worcester - I am always amazed at the cues of traffic trying to leave Worcester, they should be allowed to virtually unhindered. Any changes to the parking strategy needs to be done within an overall traffic management plan, and not based on what grabs a positive headline.

Hmm, judging by the lack of spaces in car parks over the festive period, I don't think pricing is a problem: demand is outstripping supply in the peak times. So I don't quite understand the argument for reducing parking charges. Perhaps as 3thinker mentions, charging should be variable throughout the day - that should help retailers as well as road users.
Traffic management is non-existent in Worcester - I am always amazed at the cues of traffic trying to leave Worcester, they should be allowed to virtually unhindered. Any changes to the parking strategy needs to be done within an overall traffic management plan, and not based on what grabs a positive headline.Karcsi

Just providing a parking place for one car costs c.£3000 so I'm more than happy paying for parking when I use my car.

A big advantage of cycling is that cycle parking is free. You can also usually get your bike much closer to where you want to be.

By not taking my car I'm therefore increasing my wealth and health. It also means there's one less car in the queue at the lights in front of you and an extra car parking space when you get there.

I therefore find it surprising and illogical when some motorist don't want measures to encourage more to cycle when by doing so it would help reduce traffic congestion and parking problems in the City.

Just providing a parking place for one car costs c.£3000 so I'm more than happy paying for parking when I use my car.
A big advantage of cycling is that cycle parking is free. You can also usually get your bike much closer to where you want to be.
By not taking my car I'm therefore increasing my wealth and health. It also means there's one less car in the queue at the lights in front of you and an extra car parking space when you get there.
I therefore find it surprising and illogical when some motorist don't want measures to encourage more to cycle when by doing so it would help reduce traffic congestion and parking problems in the City.i-cycle

on the face of it, Asda having that carpark should reduce congestion.consideri
ngyou can do your shopping ,get your pound refund; and still have a couple of hours to walk round the city. avoiding traffic jams and freeing up the other carparks.

on the face of it, Asda having that carpark should reduce congestion.consideri
ngyou can do your shopping ,get your pound refund; and still have a couple of hours to walk round the city. avoiding traffic jams and freeing up the other carparks.liketoknow

The fees are extortionate but its the only way to reduce the amount of congestion we have in the city. If you look at the example of ASDA that has been mentioned above, there is a huge amount of traffic in the Lowesmoor area because of the £1 car parking.

The main issue here is not what they charge but what they spend that £2mn plus on. I think many people would agree that a couple more multi story car parks are needed. These would be preferably in areas where they aren't eye saws but near enough to the city centre for people to walk into. I

The fees are extortionate but its the only way to reduce the amount of congestion we have in the city. If you look at the example of ASDA that has been mentioned above, there is a huge amount of traffic in the Lowesmoor area because of the £1 car parking.
The main issue here is not what they charge but what they spend that £2mn plus on. I think many people would agree that a couple more multi story car parks are needed. These would be preferably in areas where they aren't eye saws but near enough to the city centre for people to walk into. ICommonSenseFriends

The fees are extortionate but its the only way to reduce the amount of congestion we have in the city. If you look at the example of ASDA that has been mentioned above, there is a huge amount of traffic in the Lowesmoor area because of the £1 car parking.

The main issue here is not what they charge but what they spend that £2mn plus on. I think many people would agree that a couple more multi story car parks are needed. These would be preferably in areas where they aren't eye saws but near enough to the city centre for people to walk into. I

The fees are extortionate but its the only way to reduce the amount of congestion we have in the city. If you look at the example of ASDA that has been mentioned above, there is a huge amount of traffic in the Lowesmoor area because of the £1 car parking.
The main issue here is not what they charge but what they spend that £2mn plus on. I think many people would agree that a couple more multi story car parks are needed. These would be preferably in areas where they aren't eye saws but near enough to the city centre for people to walk into. ICommonSenseFriends

The traffic lights and road system in Worcester always seems to be designed to cause traffic delays.
What we need is for traffic to be kept moving even if it is at a slow and steady pace. This will reduce pollution from stop start motoring along with frustration.
Surely the latest generation of traffic light control if set up properly could do a better job than what we have. the lights need to be properly synchronised so that once you pass through one green light the next one should also be green.

The traffic lights and road system in Worcester always seems to be designed to cause traffic delays.
What we need is for traffic to be kept moving even if it is at a slow and steady pace. This will reduce pollution from stop start motoring along with frustration.
Surely the latest generation of traffic light control if set up properly could do a better job than what we have. the lights need to be properly synchronised so that once you pass through one green light the next one should also be green.New Kid on the Block

New Kid on the Block wrote:
The traffic lights and road system in Worcester always seems to be designed to cause traffic delays.
What we need is for traffic to be kept moving even if it is at a slow and steady pace. This will reduce pollution from stop start motoring along with frustration.
Surely the latest generation of traffic light control if set up properly could do a better job than what we have. the lights need to be properly synchronised so that once you pass through one green light the next one should also be green.

[quote][p][bold]New Kid on the Block[/bold] wrote:
The traffic lights and road system in Worcester always seems to be designed to cause traffic delays.
What we need is for traffic to be kept moving even if it is at a slow and steady pace. This will reduce pollution from stop start motoring along with frustration.
Surely the latest generation of traffic light control if set up properly could do a better job than what we have. the lights need to be properly synchronised so that once you pass through one green light the next one should also be green.[/p][/quote]Careful. You'll start upsetting people by suggesting 20mph zones next !3thinker

The problem with the traffic holdups in Worcester is as says that the traffic lights are NOT PHASED, but also The TRAFFIC LEAVING THE CITY should have fluid priorities so that there is room for the traffic coming in. It's so glaringly obvious that only idiots and our City planners can't see the problems. Most of the journies into the City are relatively straight forward, but just think about getting out of the City and it's all short stops and starts , turning left or right and a forest of traffic lights.
Example: Once a pint pot is full you cannot get anymore into it until you empty some away.
NO Science / NO physics / just simple arithmatic and common sense, something our planners / politicians have very little of.

The problem with the traffic holdups in Worcester is as says that the traffic lights are NOT PHASED, but also The TRAFFIC LEAVING THE CITY should have fluid priorities so that there is room for the traffic coming in. It's so glaringly obvious that only idiots and our City planners can't see the problems. Most of the journies into the City are relatively straight forward, but just think about getting out of the City and it's all short stops and starts , turning left or right and a forest of traffic lights.
Example: Once a pint pot is full you cannot get anymore into it until you empty some away.
NO Science / NO physics / just simple arithmatic and common sense, something our planners / politicians have very little of.Jabbadad

If u have too many pedestrian crossing u will have a problem. Why on croft road and castle street is there 4 crossing within 300 yards of each other, are pedestrians really that lazy? If u put pedestrian bridges in the tything, roundabout at end of new road instead of lights with push button pedestrian crossing. As for sidbury, there is a footbridge over city walls road, so fence dual carriage off so cars can travel at 40 miles an hour, change lights at end of city walls road to a roundabout, so traffic would flow, not sat waiting when no cars coming that direction. As for the link road to new bridge, put solid white line down middle and lighting. Would solve problem. There is never a traffic jam at St. Peter's Island, queue is always along road from powick roundabout to 3 quaters along link road. It is just not road marked well. Other then that where is there really traffic in worcester?????!!!.??
..!??!??!?!?

If u have too many pedestrian crossing u will have a problem. Why on croft road and castle street is there 4 crossing within 300 yards of each other, are pedestrians really that lazy? If u put pedestrian bridges in the tything, roundabout at end of new road instead of lights with push button pedestrian crossing. As for sidbury, there is a footbridge over city walls road, so fence dual carriage off so cars can travel at 40 miles an hour, change lights at end of city walls road to a roundabout, so traffic would flow, not sat waiting when no cars coming that direction. As for the link road to new bridge, put solid white line down middle and lighting. Would solve problem. There is never a traffic jam at St. Peter's Island, queue is always along road from powick roundabout to 3 quaters along link road. It is just not road marked well. Other then that where is there really traffic in worcester?????!!!.??
..!??!??!?!?Monk672